Downtown data center to demo stores

H5 Data Centers is moving forward with a significant expansion of its Cleveland Data Center at 1625 Rockwell Ave., located on the east side of Downtown Cleveland. The project involves demolishing five retail spaces along St. Clair Avenue to add new generators behind a screen wall, enhancing the facility's back-up electrical power supplies. The expansion requires the demolition of properties at 1536-40 St. Clair and 1616-36 St. Clair, which H5 affiliate CLE-Infrastructure LLC acquired in January 2025. This acquisition and subsequent demolition plans have led to the eviction of several active businesses, including Cleveland Safe/Cleveland Key & Security, Ambitious Ink Printing Company, Kk Lustrouz Kollection clothier, and Spaces & Co. Mark Brajdich, owner of Cleveland Safe/Cleveland Key & Security, expressed frustration, stating his nearly 50-year-old business was "kicked to the curb" with minimal notice. He was forced to relocate to a space less than half the size of his previous location, impacting his ability to serve key clients like the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Brajdich noted that H5 initiated housing court proceedings to evict his business, highlighting the developer's determination to proceed with the expansion despite the challenges faced by the displaced tenants. Despite the local business displacement and broader